World Cup Soccer Thread

[EagerBeaver]

Anyone watching the USA-Turkey prelim game? What a magnificent goal by Fabian Johnson. The pass by Michael Bradley right on the money and hit the top of his foot in stride.

USA 1 Turkey 0, 1st half

 

[EagerBeaver]

Here is the goal by Fabian Johnson, note the pass by Bradley right on the money:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11016772&categoryid=2378529

Now 2-0 USA as Clint Dempsey has also scored.

 

[jeff teliska]

Anyone else here disappointed Canada has not been to a World Cup since 1986...????
It's such a shame considering our G-8 status and being a country of immigration..
Had they participated this year I would be in Brasil as of this moment..
Guess i'll keep my hopes up for Russia 2018..

 

[Nadia JolieDELETED]

its sad for Canada we have hockey !! we did won the olympic game :nod: better than noting
i can't wait !!! FIFA WORLD CUP I'm a huge soccer fan !!! i'll be in Spain watching some game... maybe the last week in brazil its my dream to watch a fifa world cup game in brazil finally its coming


my team

-Spain
-brazil
-Argentina
-portugal
-russia
-France

 

[EagerBeaver]

Ghanan Witch Doctor Puts Hex On Ronaldo

Look for Ronaldo to tear his anterior cruciate ligament in the next week, as a spell has been cast upon him by a Ghanan witch doctor:

http://www.espnfc.com/story/1863620

 

[sam311]

Ronaldo and Reus will probably miss the group stage, so USA have a chance to get to the second stage.

My prediction:

1- Argentina
2- Brazil
3- Spain
4- Germany

 

[Joe.t]

My prediction- Italy over Brazil in the final.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Germany and Spain and Argentina all have better teams than Italy, one of those 3 will play Brazil in the final.

 

[man77777]

Spain is finished IMO.

 

[jeff teliska]

Great links Sharkman Thx..

 

[EagerBeaver]

Current World Rankings

It's interesting to see the USA ranked ahead of such stellar sides as France and Netherlands, yet behind the likes of Belgium:

1 Spain 1485 0 Equal
2 Germany 1300 0 Equal
3 Brazil 1242 1 Up
4 Portugal 1189 -1 Down
5 Argentina 1175 2 Up
6 Switzerland1149 2 Up
7 Uruguay 1147 -1 Down
8 Colombia 1137 -3 Down
9 Italy 1104 0 Equal
10 England 1090 1 Up
11 Belgium 1074 1 Up
12 Greece 1064 -2 Down
13 USA 1035 1 Up
14 Chile 1026 -1 Down
15 Netherlands 981 0 Equal
16 Ukraine 915 1 Up
17 France 913 -1 Down
18 Croatia 903 2 Up
19 Russia 893 -1 Down
20 Mexico 882 -1 Down
21 Bosnia and Herzegovina 873 4 Up
22 Algeria 858 3 Up
23 Denmark 809 0 Equal
23 Côte d'Ivoire 809 -2 Down
25 Slovenia 800 4 Up
26 Ecuador 791 2 Up
27 Scotland 786 -5 Down
28 Costa Rica 762 6 Up
29 Romania 761 3 Up
30 Serbia 745 0

 

[kaneda]

U.S is in a tough group with Portugal and Germany and Ghana is not going to be easy . G group is going to be a blood bath.Also group D is going to be tough with Uruguay England and Italy. Group B easy guess Spain and Netherland will finish that order. A group is not going to be easy to call because Cameroun , Mexico and Croatia are the same strength.

 

[man77777]

It's interesting to see the USA ranked ahead of such stellar sides as France and Netherlands, yet behind the likes of Belgium

World ranking doesn't mean anything in soccer as it counts friendly matches.

And btw, Belgium has a very strong team this year, way stronger than USA.

 

[sam311]

Belgium and Switzerland will surprise many people this year. they are both very strong teams.

 

[Big_jo]

Dries Mertens is nothing when compared to other players in Belgium squad. They have Eden hazard, Kevin de bruyne on wings
Lukaku upfront, solid defence company, vertoghen with curtious in goal
They will win their group.
My pick for winner is Argentina. European team has never won World Cup in South America

 

[EagerBeaver]

ESPN Has Selected the Top 50 Players in the World Cup. Here they are:

http://www.espnfc.com/story/1822233#worldcuprank-top-50

Can any of these guys carry their team to the Cup?

 

[EagerBeaver]

Spain Humiliated 5-1

The defending Cup champions have been humiliated 5-1 by Netherlands! What has happened to Spain?

 

[man77777]

Spain is finished IMO.

Well, they aren't the Champions they used to be... Good teams are like Empire, the fall is often violent...

We will probably have a Brazil-Spain in 2nd round !!

 

[Big_jo]

Madrid-Barcelona conflict clearly at display. No communication between pique, Ramos
For first 2 goals they were miles apart. Goalkeeper coming from a season where he rarely played.
Fault at couple of goals. Spain have been know to be vulnerable at counter attacks. I still believe they will finish second in group and face Brazil in pre quarter final. Today's humiliation can be good for Spain, early wake up call

 

[Special K]

I'm not a big fan of the futbol but this header was pretty f'n amazing!!

[video=youtube;EHpOEIBgS44]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHpOEIBgS44[/video]